From Mahomes to Manhattan: What Mike Kafka Brings to Detroit
Mike Kafka has coached at both ends of the NFL's offensive spectrum — from Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' fireworks to a Giants offense built to survive. That contrast is what makes his arrival in Detroit worth examining.
Video Transcript
What's going on, guys?
Here to talk a little bit, more about the new offensive assistant.
Kinda unclear what his role will be, but it'll be on the offensive side.
Mike Kafka for the Detroit Lions.
For all my Spartan fans out there, you guys should love this hire because Mike Kafka started his coaching career at Northwestern under Pat Fitzgerald.
The new Michigan State head coach.
Now, he was just a grad assistant there and didn't really have too big of a role, but regardless, he got his foot in the door.
Mike Kafka eventually transitioned into a decent coaching career.
He started with the Chiefs in 2017 to 2021.
Where he worked a lot with Pat Mahomes, and he won a Super Bowl with Mahomes.
He helped Mahomes win an MVP, his first MVP, and Patrick Mahomes himself came out and said that he gives a lot of credit to, at the time, quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka, which is a huge indictment by Mahomes.
Absolutely love that.
Kafka did also play five seasons in the NFL, so he's got some experience there.
He then went to the New York Giants, where he became the offensive coordinator.
Worked his way up to, you know, a prominent position to where they promoted him to interim head coach after the firing of Brian Daboll.
Now, a couple things to note about Kafka is, one, the Lions played the Giants this year, or last year.
And the Giants, they put up a lot of points, and honestly, They should have beat the Lions.
They had two amazing play calls.
They had one where, if you're a Lions fan, you should remember this play vividly.
When they threw a double pass to Jameis Winston, the quarterback.
Who would then stiff-arm Derrick Barnes, our linebacker, to the ground on a 30-yard touchdown reception.
An absolutely beautiful play call that worked to perfection.
So Mike Kafka brings a little bit of that to the table.
He brings some creativity and experience, and overall, I think this is an excellent hire for the Detroit Lions.
For everyone that criticized Dan Campbell for taking a risk on Drew Petzing, who is from the Cardinals, who haven't done a whole lot since he was there.
Mike Kafka is some great reassurance.
Now, Kafka's record with the Giants wasn't anything special.
In his first year there, they did end up making the playoffs, 9-7 and 1 with Daniel Jones.
They got a playoff win, actually, beating the Minnesota Vikings.
Which was pretty cool.
So Mike Kafka, you know, He's got playoff experience.
He's worked with an, an elite quarterback in Pat Mahomes.
He's got, you know, a lengthy coaching experience, offensive coordinating experience.
NFL experience as a player.
He checks all the boxes.
Really, and this was a guy that had, you know, multiple interviews.
Not just this year, but last year as offensive coordinator position to head coaching interviews.
So to get Mike Kafka as a just second offensive assistant, offensive coordinator, whatever you wanna call him, an offensive staff member, is an absolute win for this Detroit Lions.
